Al-Burhan Group has delivered two sand removal machines to Iraqi Republic Railways (IRR), as part of a contract signed in November 2008. The machines reached Umm Qasr Port on Saturday, the 27th of March 2010. The 46-6 Kershaw Sand Removal Machines had been shipped from the United States, from Kershaw / Progress Rail – Railway Division of Caterpillar. They will provide a fast and efficient means of managing drifting sand on IRR tracks and are needed in Western where sand covers the railway tracks extensively.

The machines will soon be subject to a technical inspection, performed by representatives of IRR and Kershaw/Progress Rail. After passing the inspection and trial test; the machines will be considered to be provisionally accepted and their guarantee period will commence.

The machines offers superior operating efficiency with faster deployment speeds and greater tractive effort at higher work speeds than other machines. The Kershaw 46-6 Sand Removal Machine is Equipped with a 2.75 meter wide "V" plough capable of ploughing sand from 10 centimetres below the top of the rail and up to 60 centimetres above the top of the rail.

Its side wings are capable of ploughing sand away from the track up to a distance of 4.2 meters. The rear-mounted broom completely removes all sand from the tops of the sleepers and rail fastenings allowing easy inspection of the track. The sand swept by the broom is discharged by conveyor to either side of the track up to a distance of 3 meters. All control functions of the attachments are performed from the operator's cab.

The machine ploughs sand away while moving in the forward direction and sweeps the residual sand away while moving in the reverse directions. The direction of movement is controlled by a propel control joystick on the main console in the operator's cab. The primary direction of travel can be reversed immediately on the track by means of a hydraulic operated turntable.

Also included in this contract is a month long training period of four IRR engineers and technicians in the United States, due to begin shortly.

Having successfully delivered another consignment of machinery to IRR, Al-Burhan Group is further strengthening its relationship with Iraqi Railways and proves its strategic role in the reconstruction of Iraq.